Award winner finds a rewarding career in special need education

Abu Dhabi: Mohammad Makhlouf, who has been working in special needs education for more than 14 years in Al Nahyaniya School in Al Ain, has found a rewarding career in this field.

“Integrating pupils with special needs in regular schools should be done on a gradual basis. It is the time to understand other pupils’ disabilities and learn to communicate with them. Therefore, I have introduced several technologies within the classroom.

“An audio laboratory, which has been implemented in around seven schools in Al Ain, teaches words and sentences in Arabic to Grade 1 and 4 pupils. Laboratories are specifically provided for special needs pupils suffering from impaired hearing to help them learn the Arabic language,” Makhlouf, the 39-year-old special needs teacher from Egypt told Gulf News.

For his efforts, Makhlouf was today (Monday) awarded the Khalifa Award in the special needs category.

Makhlouf is passionate about the special education field. “I know that there is a need. It is exciting and I like interacting with pupils who are undergoing disabilities in cognitive, learning or emotional aspects and finding out their strengths and weaknesses to realise their potential.”